Head Lice Alert (Updated 11/2/2007)
Date: November 2, 2007
To: Parent/Guardians of Barton Students
From: Karen Ward, RN, School Nurse
Re: Head Lice
Dear Parents,
I have just learned today that head lice are beginning to make an appearance at Barton. Head lice activity has been increasing across Hennepin County so we can expect to be dealing with this problem for quite some time.
I would like to avoid an infestation here at Barton, if at all possible. Although head lice carry no disease, they are just downright creepy. Plus, doing the treatments, combing with the nit comb, washing the bedding and clothing, and cleaning the house are all very disruptive and time consuming.
If you discover head lice on your child, it is imperative that you notify Jennie Smith, the health assistant. You can leave a message on the attendance line at 612-668-3588, or talk directly to Jennie by calling the main office at 612-668-3580 and asking for the health office. We need to be able to notify other families to be on lookout. Although people tend to be embarrassed and want to keep it a secret, it is to everyone’s benefit to report it. When it goes unreported it continues to spread and becomes an even bigger problem.
When we are informed that there is a case of head lice in classroom, all students in that classroom will be checked and notices will be sent home. However, the real key to controlling head lice is continuous checking of all students at home. All students should have their heads checked very carefully at home every week. If nits are found, the hair should be thoroughly combed with a metal nit comb. The combing should be done daily until all the nits are gone. If live lice are found, a lice treatment should be used followed by daily combing with the nit comb until all nits and lice are gone, or for a minimum of 2 weeks. Once all nits and lice appear to be gone, weekly checks, or even weekly combing with the nit comb would be prudent. If live lice are found, the student must stay home until he or she has been treated and the hair has been thoroughly combed. Students who have been treated will be rechecked the next day at school by the health assistant or school nurse. If live lice are still found, the student will need to go back home for more combing. All students with live lice should be retreated a 2nd time 7 to 10 days after the first treatment. This is because lice treatments do not always kill 100% of live lice and viable nits. Manual removal must also be done following the treatment. If the nits are not removed, they will hatch and there will be a new infestation.
Please talk to other parents and families about this issue. If you know of parents who have not seen this letter please direct them to the website to read it. Start checking your children every week and telling us in the health office if you find live lice.
If you’re not sure what a louse or a nit look like, join me for a 9 minute video on lice and nit identification. We will meet in the media center at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday November 6 and Friday November 9.
Head Lice Resources
Check out the links to resources recommended by Hennepin County Epidemiology.
- http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/headlice/factsheet.html
- http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/headlice/index.html (This has links to the American Academy of Pediatrics and National School Nurses Assoc.)
- The complete Harvard School of Public Health Head Lice Guide can be found at:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html - Specific info about head checks: http://hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html#children
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